SOUTH SUDAN: Peace in South Sudan Vital to AMECEA and Especially Uganda, Says Archbishop Odama
Pope Francis Meeting with Members of South Sudan Council (Images Courtesy)
The 19th AMECEA Plenary Assembly held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in July 2018 resolved to recommit itself in journeying with the Church and the people of South Sudan in their struggle towards a lasting peace. The AMECEA Bishops therefore reiterated their commitment to accompany South Sudan Council of Churches whose board of trustees organized the Vatican retreat in April 2019 where the two South Sudanese Leaders, President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar met with Pope Francis.
AMECEA restated the commitment of Bishops during the recent South Sudan Council of Churches General Assembly which was held in Juba from 26th to 29th August 2009. The AMECEA delegation that represented the Bishops included Most Rev. John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu, Uganda, Rev. Fr Anthony Makunde, Secretary General of AMECEA and Rev. Fr. Paul Igweta, Coordinator of AMECEA Integral Human Development.
One of AMECEA’s immediate plans is making a follow up on the implementation of the Papal appeal made by the Holy Father, Pope Francis in April this year (2019) when the two political leaders, His Excellency the President Salva Kiir and the Vice President Riek Machar participated in a two-day retreat in the Vatican that sought to heal bitter divisions that have fuelled conflict in South Sudan since 2013.
In his speech to the General Assembly, Archbishop Odama stressed the need for togetherness, emphasizing on the Gospel of humanness. He quoted the philosophy of ‘Undugu’ (brotherhood) in Tanzania that through which it is possible to conquer the hatred in our communities.
“Let us pray that power, resources, tribes and religion don’t destroy us. We can overcome violence by being peaceful,” Archbishop Odama said, giving example of Mahatma Gandhi who conquered violence by non-violence movement.
In an interview with AMECEA Online News, Bishop Odama stated that AMECEA’s vision is to see South Sudan reach normalcy; this means peace, prosperity and development for the citizens as well as neighbours who are interested in relations with South Sudan.
“At AMECEA level, we are interested in having the whole of Eastern Africa peaceful and progressing and that the spread of evangelization of people as well as economic development is spreading everywhere,” Archbishop Odama explained.
In this way, AMECEA recognises the on-going work by the Ecumenical Network journeying with South Sudan Council of Churches and especially the role the different partners are playing in identifying key issues of concern. This has helped the Church in the region to prioritize and shape the different on-going advocacy initiatives as well as raise awareness at global platforms as well as increase the needed support for the people of South Sudan.
AMECEA also recognizes that religious actors and institutions have retained a presence across South Sudan throughout the violence and turmoil. Since 2013, an estimated 4.2 million people have been directly affected; as of March 2019, 1.9 million are displaced internally and an estimated 2.3 million are refugees in neighbouring countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda.
“For us in Uganda we need peace in South Sudan because we are accommodating over a million refugees in the part of the country that not so long ago was in a situation of war. The northern part of Uganda where the biggest refugee camps for South Sudanese are located are yet to fully recover from the effects of war. Out of solidarity, sympathy and fraternal concern we felt obliged to welcome them as they did also for us during the time we ran into exile in South Sudan,” Archbishop Odama.
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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
